by Kevin Cole

Created on: February 06, 2009

The collapse of the U.S.S.R. in the late 1980's is usually identified as the key point in the "fall of communism." Yet this fall should also include the economic opening up of China and Cuba, particularly in the latter after Fidel Castro stepped aside. Yet even as liberal democracies flourish world-wide, the philosophical forefathers of communism are still vibrant influences in the world of ideas.

G.W.F. Hegel, in particular, continues to be a strong influence in the Continental tradition. This may be because Hegel was one-step more removed from communism than Karl Marx, but the breadth and depth of Hegelian philosophy may also account for its enduring legacy. Hegel has even penetrated into popular culture, particularly in the United States where appeals to "Destiny," "Progress," and "History" continue to hold sway. Japanese-American Francis Fukuyama is perhaps a notable example of Hegel's continuing influence. In 1992 Fukuyama published "The End of History and the Last Man" where he declared capitalistic liberal democracy as the final & ultimate political philosophy. Itsdominance over competitors, notably communism, signaled "the end of history" and the pinnacle of political and economic philosophy.

Marx's legacy is perhaps more mixed. Many philosophers and theorists continue to mine Marx for valuable philosophic resources. Yet his association with totalitarian communism has tainted his reputation, even though it was a philosophy wholly unlike what he and Engels originally envisioned. Outside of the United States, however, Marx is arguably a stronger continuing influence. Neo-Marxists like Fredric Jameson have continued the critique of "late capitalism."

Since communism's collapse many contemporary philosophers have also drawn a distinction between "Marxist" and "Marxian" thought. In the former one might maintain the core features of classical Marxism: dialectical materialism, benevolent rule of the proletariat, etc. This variety is less popular, particularly as thought has shifted to more contingent philosophies of history. Marxian philosophy, on the other hand, rejects the totalizing view of history that was Hegel and Marx's. Marxian thought keeps, however, the essential critique of capitalism and continue believe in its eventual collapse. Marx's critique of capitalism continues to inspire leftists of all stripes, not just socialists. It's worth noting, in particular, that many anarchist philosophies continue to mine Marx and anarcho-communists are a long-standing, sizable segment of the anarchist population.

Of course, many of those still utilizing Hegel also read Marx and vice versa. Slavoj Zizek is perhaps the most famous philosopher still actively utilizing Marx, and he falls somewhere between this Marxist/Marxian distinction. Zizek has kept Marx & Hegel alive by combining both with Freudian psychoanalysis as filtered through Jacques Lacan. Zizek's wide-ranging treatises on psychology, politics, philosophy, and pop culture have made him a dominant figure in Europe and, to a lesser extent, North America.

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